On December 25, 2014 at 06:01 MSK (03:01 UTC) the Space and Air Defense Forces performed a successful launch of a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from the launch pad No. 4 of the launch complex No. 43 of the Plesetsk launch site. The spacecraft delivered into orbit is believed to be a new generation electronic reconnaissance satellite of the Lotos-S type.

The satellite received international designation 2014-086A and NORAD catalog number 43058. According to NORAD data, the new satellite was deployed in an initial orbit with inclination of 67.2 degrees, orbital period of about 96 minutes, apogee of 899 km, and perigee of 242 km (the orbit is expected to be circularized at about 900 km in the next few days).

Russia has not announced a Cosmos designation for the satellite. [UPDATE 03/11/15: It appears that the satellite is Cosmos-2502.] Neither did it officially disclose its mission or codename. Lotos-S electronic reconnaissance satellites are expected work pas part of the Liana system that is replacing old Tselina-2. The first Lotos-S launch (Cosmos-2455) took place in November 2009.

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On December 2, 2017 at 13:43 MSK (10:43 UTC) the Air and Space Forces conducted a successful launch of a Soyuz-2.1b launcher from the Plesetsk test site. The satellite delivered into orbit received official designation Cosmos-2524. The satellite recei...

On October 25, 2018 at 3:15 MSK (0:15 UTC) the Air and Space Forces conducted a successful launch of a Soyuz-2.1b launcher from the launch pad No. 4 of the launch complex No. 43 of the Plesetsk test site....